Conclusion (22.11–21)

English

Let the one who is unjust stay unjust, and let the one who is filthy stay filthy, and let the one who is just still do justice, and let the one who is holy stay holy. See, I am coming soon, and my reward is with me to give each according to his work. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end. Blessed are the ones who wash their robes, so they will have access to the tree of life. And they will enter the gates into the city. Outside are the dogs and the sorcerers and the sexually immoral and the murderers and the idolaters and everyone who loves and does lies. I, Jesus, have sent my angel to witness these things in the assemblies to you. I am the root and the descendant of David, the bright morning star.’

And the spirit and the bride say, ‘Come!’

And let the one who hears say, ‘Come!’

And let the one who thirsts come, and let the one who desires freely receive life’s water. I witness to all who hear the words of this scroll’s prophecy: If anyone adds to these things, God will give him the plagues written in this scroll. And if anyone removes from the words of this scroll’s prophecy, God will remove his share from the tree of life and from the holy city, which are written in this scroll.

The one who witnesses these things says, ‘Yes, I am coming soon. Amen.’

Come, Lord Jesus. The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all.

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Interpretation

The book concludes the way it began, as a letter addressed to the seven assemblies. The closing message is profoundly absolutist, offering salvation ‘freely’, but also insisting that sinners must remain sinners.

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Parallels

Psalms

28.4 Repay them according to their work, and according to the evil of their deeds; repay them according to the work of their hands; render them their due reward.

62.12 For you repay to all according to their work.

Hosea

4.9 I will punish them for their ways, and repay them for their deeds.

Isaiah

40.10 See, the Lord Yhwh comes with might, and his arm rules for him; his reward is with him, and his recompense before him.

41.4 Who has performed and done this, calling the generations from the beginning? I, Yhwh, am first, and will be with the last.

44.6 I am the first and I am the last

48.12 I am he; I am the first, and I am the last.

59.18 According to their deeds, so will he repay

62.11 Yhwh has proclaimed to the end of the earth: Say to daughter Zion, ‘See, your salvation comes; his reward is with him, and his recompense before him.’

Deuteronomy

4.1–2 So now, Israel, give heed to the statutes and ordinances that I am teaching you to observe, so that you may live to enter and occupy the land that Yhwh, the god of your ancestors, is giving you. You must neither add anything to what I command you nor take away anything from it, but keep the commandments of Yhwh your god with which I am charging you.

12.32 You must diligently observe everything that I command you; do not add to it or take anything from it.

Jeremiah

25.14 For many nations and great kings shall make slaves of them also; and I will repay them according to their deeds and the work of their hands.

Ezekiel

3.27 Let those who will hear, hear; and let those who refuse to hear, refuse; for they are a rebellious house.

Proverbs

24.12 And will he not repay all according to their works?

Dead Sea Scrolls

4QMMT And gos are not to be brought to the sacred camp for they may eat some of the bones from the Sanctuary to which meat is still attached. For Jerusalem is the sacred camp and is the place which he has chosen from all the tribes of Israel, for Jerusalem is the head of the camps of Israel.

Testament of Isaac

6.35 ‘He is the first and the last, as the prophets have said.’

Psalms of Solomon

2.34–35 to separate between righteous and sinner, to repay the sinners forever according to their works and to have pity on the righteous, from the humiliation of the sinner, and to repay the sinner for what he has done to the righteous.

Didache

10.13–14 If anyone is holy, let him come. If anyone is not, let him repent. Maranatha!

1 Corinthians

16.22–23 Maranatha! The grace of the Lord Jesus be with you.

2 Corinthians

5.10 For all of us must appear before the judgment seat of the Anointed One, so that each may receive recompense for what has been done in the body, whether good or evil.

Romans

2.6–8 For he will repay according to each one’s works: to those who by patiently doing good seek for glory and honor and immortality, he will give eternal life; while for those who are self-seeking and who obey not the truth but wickedness, there will be wrath and fury.

Matthew

16.27 ‘For the son of man is to come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will repay everyone for what has been done.’

1 Peter

1.17 If you invoke as Father the one who judges all people impartially according to their works

Odes of Solomon

30.2 And come all you thirsty and take a drink, and rest beside the spring of the Lord.